Ten Skills of Organising‏ - Response

I think that Clare is spot on in putting motivation at the top. This is really the key to being a good organiser. The really effective organiser will work with workers to help them answer the 'Why' question.

Why should I join?
Why should I get more involved in the union?
Why should I take this action?

They will do this by being able to link these questions to the workers values (what they think is important - self respect, dignity, decent pay, job security etc.) with either their anger/frustration or their hopes and ambitions.

The next task for the effective organising is to link the 'Why' to the 'How' and again to answer these with the workers. We know why we should act, but how?

Therefore the effective organiser knows about strategy (tactics, resources, commitment) and through the link between the HOW and the WHY develops a shared understanding between workers, members, activists, organiser and union of what we have (our resources), what we need (power) and what we want (our interests served).

Carl Roper

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